Course Overview
Times of caring for someone can offer profound opportunities for personal growth and transformation but is often fraught with difficulties as we are confronted by our own fears and struggles.
Participants will experience and develop mindfulness meditation and compassionate reflection skills to nurture their own self-care and capacity to be present with another during times of difficulty. Through a contemplative approach to caring within an atmosphere of acceptance, non-judgment and compassionate presence, the carer and cared for can reconnect with their own sources of strength, meaning and hope bringing healing and a greater sense of peace for all.
Expected Outcomes
Through an understanding of neuroscience alongside the cultivation of a mindfulness and compassion practice, group discussion and self-reflection individuals will develop:
- practical resources for preventing burnout and enhancing your caring capacity
- resilience to alleviate stress and heal exhaustion.
- contemplative skills that foster a greater sense of self-awareness and well-being
- the ability to stay present with an open and compassionate heart in amongst difficulties
Course Structure
Duration: 8 weeks, 1 session per week of 2.5 hours
Group size: min 6 – max 12
Individual commitment to meditation practice: 20-40 minutes per day is recommended for long term benefit
Led by an experienced facilitator and backed by scientific research presented in an easy to understand format, each session covers particular exercises and topics that are examined within the context of mindfulness and compassion.
These include different forms of meditation practice and compassionate reflections designed to guide you through establishing (or deepening) a meditation practice, thereby allowing compassionate mindfulness to become part of your daily life.
Personal workbooks and meditation downloads are provided for all participants, along with inter-class support.
Who Can Attend?
This course is open to all those in a caring capacity including carers, therapists, parents, nurses, teachers, healthcare professionals and for anyone wishing to take a more compassionate approach to caring for self and others.
Taught in a secular format this course is suitable for people of all faiths and people who do not identify with a particular religious or spiritual tradition.
Our courses are:
- suitable for beginners as well as those wishing to refresh their mindfulness practice
- open to all adults (minimum age 18 yrs, no maximum)
- ideal for people who see their health and personal growth as their own responsibility and who like to learn from their experiences, rather than looking for a quick fix.
Mindfulness is a skill which takes both time and personal commitment to be learned. Whilst participants may well experience a change in ‘state’ as a result of ad-hoc meditations, the researched benefits of mindfulness come from the regular practice of mindfulness meditation and the possibility of changes in ‘trait’*. If you are interested in learning mindfulness we therefore ask that you read the ‘Commitment Required’ section of the course booking page.
* From States to Traits: the Latest Science on What Meditation can and Can’t Do
Is There Anything Else I Should Be Aware Of?
Yes, mindfulness is often both more challenging and more rewarding than people imagine. It is not unusual for people to attend mindfulness courses during periods of change and/or difficulty in their lives with many often experiencing significant benefits as a result. There are however times when attending a group mindfulness course might not be beneficial. We would ask that you read through the ‘is this the right time for me to attend a mindfulness course’ section of the course booking page, contacting us as necessary if you have any concerns or questions.
Practice Days
Towards the end of your course you will be invited to join us for a practice day. This is an important opportunity to both consolidate what you are learning on the course and to prioritise your wellbeing by taking a day out to relax, refresh and rejuvenate.
In-House Caring Teams
This course and an introductory workshop are available to be commissioned for in-house teams such as Hospices, Palliative and End of Life Care, Charities, Caring Groups & Facilities, NHS Carers, Schools etc. Please contact us for further information on relax@YorkMBSR.co.uk
